About Us

Awaken Old City Church started around the idea of "How can we build a church community where we go to the people, rather than have them try to find us?" We always wanted to start a church that was downtown centered, positioned to have a voice in the community and be salt and light in a place where it's direly needed. We started Awaken Coffee and the church to accomplish that vision. Our coffee shop is open 7 days a week, we participate in downtown events and get to meet new people every day!

This allows us as a church to be able to be on mission but as a community of believers. What does that mean, the word "community"? We believe that together in fellowship, we grow closer to God and one another. The Bible speaks about iron sharpening iron. We believe that together we grow stronger.

We strive to be a church without walls. Jesus calls for us to go outside the wallsof the church to reach the lost and the broken. It is there that the lost will be found. We make it an effort to be like the church from the book of Acts, to see our city changed.

We highly value our relationships with one another. We look to grow through fellowship, and ultimately growing closer to God. We value the word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We look to extend grace to all of the lost and broken and lead those with no hope to the hope of Jesus Christ.

Knoxville, TN. native, Pastor Adam Lutts is the founder and lead Pastor of Awaken Old City Church. Their journey in church planting started in 2004 as full-time youth Pastors. Serving in that capacity for 9 years allowed them to see the gap between generations that kept many youth group graduates from becoming assimilated in an adult congregation. This started a process of questions asking what new church community could be. They have served as Project Coordinators for International missions organizations, trainers for Dynamic Church Planters International and planted 2 churches and a coffee shop in Knoxville, TN. They love Knoxville and chose this area to raise their family consisting of three amazing daughters plus a son in law.

Kelly and Tina Copeland are Associate Pastors at Awaken Old City and have assisted in planting two churches. Kelly has served in the military for over 25 years and Tina is a teacher. They have been married for 20 years and have three children. Kelly and Tina have a heart for servant leadership and have been involved in pastoral ministry since 1999. They have functioned in the areas of children’s and youth ministry, small groups, discipleship, and prophetic ministry; and have a desire to see people fulfill the call of God on their life and promote healthy families.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Melissa Hale is the Worship Pastor of Awaken Old City with the support and unified effort of her husband, Sarasota, Fl. native Matthew Hale. Crossing borders, getting married in Florida and deciding to move somewhere in between both families, they now call Knoxville home. With their combined education, involvement and leadership of over 25 years in worship music and youth ministry across 2 countires, they are eager to help move many deeper into their God given gifting, callings, and create a space for those to dive deeper into authentic worship. In their off time, Matthew and Melissa are musicians and songwriters bridging into the world outside the church walls with the passion to help advance God's Kingdom through music and creative arts.